Please recommend a brolly

[Brollymolly]

I live in the South West and it rains. It rains A LOT. It rains and then it rains again. Fairly often the Met Office will say <10% change of rain and everywhere is flooded.

I've been WFH since covid and I've just been offered a new job IN AN OFFICE 🥳 I'm giddy and excited because WFH is useful but I've just become so insular and isolated. I'm so excited to get back out there again.

Anyway, I'll have a short commute and I need a strong brolly! Any budget. I'll spend whatever it takes to have a good umbrella.

My job is only PT so only commuting 3 times a week but still - very flipping excited!

(I'm literally so excited that I've turned my hellish memories of rainy London commutes into beautiful daydreams 😂)

Congrats on the job!

I've just splashed out (see what I did there?) on one of these collapsibles. I did a lot of research, and it was tested to hurricane level 1. It also comes in 10 colours. Mine's the turquoise.

It's definitely not cheap, but I'm looking at it as a long-term investment. Am so fed up with brollies that claim to be windproof, yet blow inside out in a strong gust.

Even the vented ones. Grr.

I'll be livid and returning it if even a bit disappointed!

https://bluntumbrellas.co.uk/collections/core-range-1/products/2020-blunt-metro

(Though I was VERY tempted to buy this, to make people smile!)
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1109440273/automatic-foldable-umbrella-merde-il

Following because I have never found one that lasts...

I walk anywhere I can (trying to leave the car for essential journeys) and I honestly cannot remember the last time I used a brolly!

I hate them, they never do the job properly, in wind they flap all over and I end up like Mary Poppins. I never know what to do with the wet soggy thing when rain stops and I have lost so many on my travels that I gave up.

I now have a couple of "pack away" rainjackets. I just shove them in my bag and they keep me dry (they have a hood and all!). They dry quickly when the rain stops so I just turn them inside out and throw into my bag. If soaked I'll shake them out and put them in a (nappy lol) bag or similar.

I got mine from Trespass, and Joules. Here is one of them if you are interested..

Joules Women's Golightly Printed Waterproof Packaway : Amazon.co.uk: Fashion

Oh and congrats on the job, hope it goes well for you. You sound so excited!

Oh gosh @keyboardkat I needed one today during a random heavy shower that wasn't even forecasted which prompted this thread!

I have one of those Joules packaways which I haven't used for years! I have the dotty one. I'll dig it out and store in my work bag.

Thanks @DomenicaAllesandra having a look at those now. My last umbrella turned inside out during a random squally storm and I was SO cross 😂 (there is nowhere sheltered to wait on a wet school run!)

Thank you, I am!! I think years of fully WFH has broken me a little.

If you want a mini or small one, then Davek are very highly rated.

If you want a very cheerful larger one that hasn't let me down yet and brightens up the worst day, get one of these.

www.myoddballs.com/collections/umbrella

These are great

Congratulations on the new job! I live in Wales and walk to/from work pretty much every day come rain, hail or shine. I really rate Shedrain brollies. I picked one up from Costco that lasted HEAVY usage for a solid 8 years before one of the hinges going and I immediately replaced it - I thought it was going to cost a fortune because it's really well made but it was a reasonable £12 on eBay (grey with spot compact one). I wouldn't use it (or any brolly) in gusts - for that I rely on my trusty Seasalt Mac.

Blunt are excellent and survive heavy winds.

I’ve got a Blunt - they are strong and worth every penny , had mine a few years now , definitely recommend . The

My Lulu Guiness birdcage style one has lasted 10 years.

Not everyone's style though and is rather large, so only ever taken out of it's already raining when I go out or rain is forecast.

@Mercurial123, @RuppyDa ,

That's good to hear. Sounds like I chose wisely!

Well, my algorithms are clearly screwed after hours of researching brollies. An ad for a Brioni umbrella just showed up.

A mere snip at £680 😮

Afraid no recommendations on brollies as I’ve given up and just put a hood up - but congrats, you sound thrilled! Hope you love being back in the office (I much prefer it too) and your new job goes well 😊

Anther vote for Davek.

I started with a mini one that lived in my work bag - so small it barely took up any space.

Then I was gifted a bigger one that has a button to put it up. It's a better size for keeping me covered, plus I can put it up so easily with the button, and it's bigger than the mini but still small enough to not take up all of my bag.

Davek. If it fails they'll give you a new one free. I'm in the south west and one did fail once and I did get a free replacement. I had to pay postage. They're really good.

I highly recommend James Smith & Sons

Handmade British umbrellas, the London shop is magnificent.

Thank you everyone!! I have a lot of brolly research to do.

I do put my hood up but it always get blown down again. The Atlantic storms are brutal!! My coat is a Musto sailing one so it ought to be storm proof but it struggles. Hopefully a storm jacket AND a brolly together might keep me dry for a very short commute.

@DomenicaAllesandra I am totally intrigued by that one!

I always said "as soon as I get a job offer I need a brolly and boots day" 😁

Who ya gonna call? Gustbusters!!
https://gustbuster.com/collections/all

I’m on the hunt for a new umbrella and found your post about the Blunt ones; can I ask if you are pleased with it?!